Magnet School Funding Reductions: Impact on Programs and Services Funding cuts have forced Sheff magnet schools to make cuts to staffing, programming, and services. These cuts make it more challenging for magnet schools to close the achievement gap and attract students from school districts with greater financial resources, threatening the integration goals of the Sheff Stipulated Agreement. RESC-operated magnet schools in the Sheff region have not received an increase in per pupil funding from the state since FY11. Magnet schools received the same funding for six years: $10,443 per child. In FY17, the state reduced funding to $10,002 per pupil; and the state has indicated that it will further reduce funding for FY18 to between $9,339 and $9,712 per pupil. Between FY2016 and FY2018, CREC was forced to make the following cuts in its Sheff magnet schools:  Eliminated the following positions: o Administrative Positions:  o 8 Administrators* (Assistant Superintendent of Operations; Assistant Superintendent for Talent Development and Innovation; Director of Secondary Schools; Director of Health & Wellness; Director of Science; Arts High Assistant Principal; Two Rivers Principal; Two Rivers Assistant Principal.) *Added Director of Family Engagement. Non-administrative Positions:  21.7 Teachers  5.5 Non-certified Positions  42 Associate Instructors  3 Administrative Assistants  2 Literacy Coaches  2 Job Coaches  2 Curriculum Specialists  1 World Language Coordinator (.54 FTE)  1 Marketing Specialist  1 Educational Services Supervisor  1 Student Support Team Member  Reduced all Literacy Coaches, Theme Coaches, and Nurses’ work year.  Eliminated summer school, a program that was essential to closing the achievement gap.  Eliminated Saturday Academy, an educational service program for students needing additional time and support.  Reduced the length of the school day in all schools with extended-day or a school-day longer than 7.25 hours.  Cut the instructional supplies line annually, including books and technology resources.  Reduced all middle school extracurricular athletic opportunities to two days per week.  Diminished the planned growth and availability of technology systems and hardware spending that was essential to keeping the schools technologically up to date.  No longer have a funding mechanism for purchasing replacement devices for students, threatening the 1:1 student-computer program.  Newly-designed schools are no longer given a 15% theme allowance, which was essential to ensuring that the magnet theme was properly incorporated into the school curriculum and facilities. Greg J. Florio, Ed.D., Executive Director, CREC 860-524-4063  gflorio@crec.org  www.crec.org